Rare Cookbooks Worth $$

You probably have them on your shelf - old, vintage or antique cookbooks. Did you know they could be worth money! Many people are now selling their rare cookbooks to to cookbook collectors and making hundreds of dollars at it!

Some collectors collect in one category like chocolate cookbooks. Many are looking for old vintage Betty Crocker cookbooks from the 1950's or 1960's. And some don't have to be very old to be worth a lot.

Check the Internet for the value of your cookbook. The Faded Giant book database lets you search the value of specific texts. Search using title and author. You can also do general searches using the term 'cookbook'.

Rubus Occidentalis

Or more commonly known as Black Raspberries - the 'king of berries'! 

Black Raspberries have one of the highest antioxidant ratings among the common fruits and berries and they are right here...growing wild in my back yard! 

Black raspberries have around 40% more anti-cancer power because high amounts of anthocyanins they contain - the natural compounds which gives them their black color. 

1 cup of black raspberries provides 60% of the days requirements of vitamin C. 1 cup also provides 7 grams of fiber!

Our fence line is loaded with these wild raspberry plants and since they're fresh season is Minnesota is July 1st - July 21st we only have about another week to pick!  

Gingerbread Eggs and Freezer Jam

We had fun in the kitchen this morning! Gingerbread man eggs and heart shaped jelly bread were on the menu! This was a great way to get Daniel to eat this morning. Some days he tends to be really stubborn about eating breakfast, but not today. 

This nummy strawberry freezer jam is from last years pick of strawberries from an organic berry farm. Freezer jam is super easy to do and takes very little time and effort. All you need is ripe fruit, sugar, water and a box of fruit pectin. Mash, mix, pour and freeze!

Cabbage Hotdish??

I recently switched to grocery shopping once per month rather than each week. It's has helped me become more resourceful, right down to the bag of old cabbage in my ridge. It had been there for about 3 weeks in it's sealed bag, still in good shape. I found a cabbage recipe in a church cookbook and curiously whipped up 'Cabbage Hotdish'.

It didn't have a name in the cookbook other than 'hotdish' and I wasn't about to tell my family what was in it but it turned out excellent and healthy and they gobbled it up!!

Ingredients:
1# Ground Beef (I used 1 1/2 #)
1 medium onion
1/2 c. uncooked rice. (I used 1 c. leftover cooked brown rice)
1/2 head cabbage (I used 3/4 of the 16oz. bag)
1 - 15oz. can tomato sauce (or 2 small cans)
1/4 tsp. garlic powder (I used 1/4 tsp crushed garlic from my freezer)
1/4 tsp. pepper
2 c. tomato juice (I used 2c. V8 vegetable juice)

Brown the beef. Layer the beef, cabbage, sauce, rice and onion in 2-qt casserole dish. Repeat layers. Mix garlic with pepper and juice; pour over top. Cover. Bake 350 for 1 1/4 hours. (I just put everything into the crock pot on high for 3 1/2 hours or so). Easily serves 5 or more.

Did you know CABBAGE is a SUPERFOOD!! It's FULL of vitamin C - more than Oranges!! Vitamin C is the best anti oxidant that reduces 'free radicals' in your body which are the basic cause of ageing! It also helps in treating ulcers, certain cancers, strengthens your immune system and fights against cough and cold! What a great reason to 'eat your cabbage'! 

5 Days of Fasting....sort of

On Sunday we arrived back at our house after 2 months of constant running around; 5 weddings, 2 baby showers, 1 bridal shower, California visitors, holiday parties...the list goes on and on. Each week I'd shop for food for the weekend, mow lawn, pack clothes, wrap gifts, print maps, prepare meals, load the car AND be a mom and wife. It's been insanely busy. Sooo, I decided that I would 'fast' from going anywhere this week.

"and this woman was a widow of about eighty-four years old, who did not depart from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day" Luke 2:37

Today is Saturday and I have completed my 5 day fast!! It was easier than I thought! It was a week of reflection to realize what's really important, like reading His word and sitting at His feet each day BEFORE anything else!

I also got tons of stuff done like all the clothes is washed, folded AND put away, both the bathrooms are sparkly clean, this blog is up and running, balanced wholesome meals were made, there was no stress of trying to get the kids out of the house and the garden thanked me for plucking it's produce!! What a great week! 

So, like Anna, the widow of about eighty-four years old, I give THANKS to the Lord for what he has allowed me to accomplish this week!   

From Pizza Pie to Mud Pie!

Growing up on a farm there were always mud pies made after a good rain. There were also a lot of cow pies to watch out for!! So just like when I was a kid, we grabbed moms good pie pan, ran outside and found a pile of mud to dig around in. Filled up the pan, found a few pretty rocks and 'waahlaah', the best ever mud pie!

"The red rocks are strawberries, the yellow rocks are banana's and the ones with black spots are pepper!" 

Such imagination!!

Hours after a huge Thanksgiving dinner last year at my in laws house, my Mother-in-law pulled out two big chocolate pudding pies that my husbands Grandma made. They were so scrumptious and the best part was the CRUST!! So I asked Grandma the recipe and she rattled it off:

2 cups flour

1/2 cup oil

1/4 cup milk

1 tsp salt

That's it! She said she makes a few at a time and has them in the freezer for when unexpected guests come over, then she just whips up some pudding and 'waahlaaah', the best pudding pie ever!!

Pizza Inspirations

Not all pizza's are made in the kitchen! On those yucky rainy days we always find ourselves in the craft corner of the basement. This craft was inspired by last nights dinner with my parents. Thursdays are usually leftover night but instead we ordered pizza! What a treat!!

List of ingredients:
1 cardboard pizza board
18 rectangle cardboard cutouts for a thick hand-tossed crust
Red paint for sauce
1 sponge for painting
Handful of brown or black pom poms for sausage
Handful of shredded yellow, orange and white construction paper for cheese
10 red felt circles for pepperoni
10 pink felt squares for Canadian bacon
6 green foam circles for green olives
5 brown buttons for mushrooms
craft glue

Daniel is very orderly so he made his pizza half and half without even knowing it! All the mushrooms are together, all the peps, and the sausage....it was really hard to sit back and not scatter them!

Perfect Hard Boiled Eggs

With a picky toddler at home, I make a lot of hard boiled eggs because it's one thing he will eat! He still wont eat the yolk but he will eat the rest of it. I received an egg timer as a gift few years ago and it has become one of the most popular kitchen tools I have.

It looks and feels like a paper-weight. I just put the timer in the water with the eggs and it begins to darken as the eggs cook indicating how hard they are boiled. No more kitchen timers or guessing games!

What's in YOUR fridge?

Are you as curious as I am when it comes to other peoples refrigerators?! My mother in law for instance, as an exceptionally clean fridge and the items in it might even be in alphabetical order! Her freezer is the same way! What a great quality to have!

This year we switched from plastic storage containers to the Pyrex glass containers to store food. There's just something about plastic that I don't quite trust. The Pyrex is nice because I can throw the leftovers right into the microwave with out transferring to a glass plate. Plus they just look nice in the fridge!

Here's my fridge today! It's always organized the same. Condiments on the top (pickles etc.) Drinks on the middle shelf. Leftovers on the 3rd shelf. Tortilla's, small ketchup packets, dressing packets etc. in the drawer. Eggs, cottage cheese, yogurt and fruits on the bottom shelf. Produce in the 1st drawer and lunch meats and cheeses in the bottom drawer. If we're gone for a long weekend I toss the bread, buns, banana bread and muffins in there too.

So what's in YOUR fridge?

Mini Cornmeal Pancakes

We make toddler style cornmeal pancakes about every 2 months. This is a nice, healthy alternative to the basic pancake recipe. I found this winner a while ago in my Joy of Cooking cookbook. It makes a huge batch so we eat few and freeze the rest in a Ziploc. When I need a quick breakfast I take a few out, break the frozen cakes into pieces and toss them in the micro for a few seconds. Breakfast is served in less than 3 minutes!

The recipe calls for 1/4 c. maple syrup which I substitute with local honey. They become less sweet, but when you eat them with syrup, you don't notice.

Days Gone By...

Like a car coming to a screeching stop -- errrrrt!! Everything gets put on the back burner when a baby is born. Lydia Rose was born in January. And just this week I began cooking again! Previously its been  what I like to call 'plastic meals' - quick easy meals. Dont get me wrong they are still somewhat homemade, I refuse to buy anything in a box (except mac and cheese - Annies style). It feels good to get back in the produce section. I missed my rainbow soups and homemade sauces.

Peas, beans and potato's were harvested this week from my backyard oasis. My garden, of which I call 'the lush emerald' has amazed me with what it can produce considering it's circumstances; sandy soil, lack of fertilizer, lack of love, lack of water and abundance of weeds! It gains it's name from the beauty it produces considering the lush layer of weeds.

Crunchy Turkey Casserole

An after Thanksgiving favorite! I received this recipe from my Mother in Law soon after my husband and I were married.  It is a simple recipe, easy to whip up in a hurry. This recipe fills a 9"x13" pan so I generally take half of it and freeze it in a large ziplock.

Crunchy Turkey Casserole
1 box of Uncle Bens long grain wild rice
4 c. turkey (or chicken)
8 oz can sliced water chestnuts, drained
1 sm or med onion, chopped
1 green pepper, chopped
2 cans cream of chicken soup
1 c. milk
3/4 C. Helmans mayonaise
1 c. French's french fried onions

1.  Mix all the ingredients together in a large bowl except fried onions. Scoop into baking dish, covered.

2.  Bake at 350 degrees for 1 - 1 1/2 hours depending on size of baking dish. Sprinkle fried onions over the top and bake uncovered for an additional 10 minutes at the end.

I'll usually serve this with homemade cornbread and an additional vegetable side dish. Some people like to eat this with plain potato chips.

Tangy Chops with Honey Curry Sauce

Tonight I made the marinade for pork chops. It smells amazing! The chops will sit overnight in a bag and be the main course tomorrow night. This marinade can be made ahead of time and after it cools you can add the chops to a freezer bag and freeze. On serving day, thaw completely and broil.

Curry Powder: is basically a blend of different spices and is used in a wide variety of savory dishes throughout India and Southeast Asia.

Tangy Chops with Honey Curry Sauce
6 pork loin chops
3 slices bacon, diced
1 c. onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 c. soy sauce
1/3 c. lemon juice
2 T. honey
1 T. curry powder
2 t. chili powder
1/4 t. salt

1. Cook the bacon in a skillet until lightly browned. Add the onion and garlic and saute' until tender. Stir in soy sauce, lemon juice, honey, curry powder, chili powder, and salt. Simmer 2-3 minutes. Remove from heat. Allow the sauce to stand for 1 hour so the flavors can blend together. Place the pork chops in a freezer bag, add the sauce. Freeze them at this point or let them marinade overnight. 
2. Place the pork chops on a broiling pan and place in the oven 4' from heat. Broil 12-15 minutes; flip chops and broil 10-15 minutes more. Brush the chops frequently with marinade. Or if it's not freezing outside like it is here in Minnesota you can grill them!

This recipe is from one of my favorite recipe books called Don't Panic more Dinner's in the Freezer. I think it's pretty handy to have a few extra meals in the freezer for unexpected guests! 

How did they turn out?
Excellent! I might have broiled mine a little too long because they were a bit dry, but the flavor was still there. My husband didn't even use any sauce (ketchup, heinz and honey)! That tells me they were a winner. The curry and chili power gave it a little kick but still sweet with the honey. I'd do it again. 

Chunky Chicken Soup

I made this great recipe this week and instantly thought of who I could share it with. It is PACKED with protein and veggies! A perfectly well balanced meal to bring to a friend in need. It includes basic ingredients that are easy to have on hand. Transport in an old ice cream pail and send along a package of Pillsbury biscuits.

Chunky Chicken Soup
3/4 pound boneless skinless chicken breast cut into cubes. (I just used the chicken I baked the day before)
1/2 c. chopped onions
1-1/2 tsp. minced garlic
2 tsp. olive oil
2 TB all-purpose flour
2 cans (14 1/2 oz each) vegetable or chicken broth
2 cans (15 1/2 oz each) great northern beans, rinsed and drained
1-1/2 c. frozen mixed veggies, thawed
1 c. frozen chopped broccoli, thawed
1 can chopped green chilies
3/4 tsp. Italian seasoning
1/2 tsp. ground cumin
1/4 tsp. pepper
1/2 c. shredded mozzarella cheese

1.  In a Dutch oven, saute the chicken, onion and garlic in oil until chicken juices run clear. Stir in flour until blended; gradually add broth. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes.

2.  Reduce heat; stir in the beans, vegetables and seasonings. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 8-10 minutes or until vegetables are tender. Garnish with cheese. Makes 7 cups.

My husband really enjoyed his bowl full, even though he's not a veggie guy. I think it's the flavors of the cumin and pepper that jazz it up a little bit. My batch turned our really hearty, almost like a stew so next time I'll add an extra can of chicken broth or water to make a little more broth.

I should give credit to a really old Taste of Home magazine where I think this recipe came from.

Hanky Panky's - A Dutch dish

So I have a Dutch friend, well actually he's the husband of my good friend Molly. Each year they go to Orange City, IA to the Tulip Festival. They get all dressed up in Dutch costume, even the kids, and celebrate their heritage.

This is a Dutch meal they make regularly. Contains staple ingredients other than Rye bread which I don't usually have on hand. It's a simple mixture and can even be prepared in the crock pot ahead of time.


Hanky Pankies!
1 1/2 # ground beef
1 onion, chopped
1 8oz package cream cheese
1 can cream of chicken soup
1/3 c. milk
1/3 c. ketchup
Loaf of rye bread

1. Brown the burger and onion. Transfer to a bowl and add remaining ingredients (except bread). Mix together, it will be like a spread.

2. Place rye bread on a cookie sheet, spread mixture over the top.

3. Bake at 350* uncovered for 12-15 minutes

Eat it just as it is or with tortilla chips.

The family that gave me this recipe usually doubles it, freezes some of the mixture and uses it for last minute meals. They also bring the mixture to work and at lunch time just spread it on bread and heat it up in the microwave.